| Author |
Message |
    
Dr_greg
| | Posted on Friday, January 16, 2009 - 06:05 pm: | 
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If I'd been riding a 636 at age 15, I'd likely not have made it to 16.
If I'd have had 100+hp on tap...I'd been nothing but a greasy spot.
All our four boys (as well as Dr. Greg himself ) are very, um, "reasonable" and (even Keith) only indulge in, ah, "spirited riding" when/where it is most appropriate (e.g. not around town). None of them are "show-offs"...although Keith was pretty crazy on his YZ125, come to think of it. But only in the dirt, y'unnerstand!
Those of you with kids have experienced this, but most other parents are horrified at our attitude towards motorcycles. I've found a perfect way to terminate a conversation about safety (a much more popular topic now than when I was a kid) is to say, "What do I care about safety; I ride a motorcycle."  End of conversation. |
Natexlh1000
| | Posted on Friday, January 16, 2009 - 06:25 pm: |
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My KLR250 kept me alive by being puny in that age too. |
Johnnylunchbox
| | Posted on Friday, January 16, 2009 - 07:12 pm: |
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On the bright side of things, he has just received a great and valuable experience.
Not to mention a new found fear and respect for riding that will hopefully help keep him safe on the road.
+1 to that. Hope he heals quickly. As a noted motorcycling percussionist penned in a song "We are only immortal for a limited time." |
Nevrenuf
| | Posted on Friday, January 16, 2009 - 10:02 pm: |
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son had a 636 with the mat blue paint. nice bike but felt wierd to me. he like it for the most part. he didn't have the bike 2 months before he went down in a panic situation. just a good thing he had atgatt. daughter didn't have all her gear when she got hit from the rear. least she had her full face though cause she did see the pavement through the plexi. |
Cajunrph
| | Posted on Friday, January 16, 2009 - 10:28 pm: |
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Hope the rest of the year is nothing but all ups and no downs. Would be good to get out all the bad karma in the first 2 weeks of the year. 15yrs and ridding a bike, man you are one cool dad. My mother would not let me get near on of those death traps. I showed her, now I have 3 bikes(although one is slated to be sold)  |
Dentguy
| | Posted on Friday, January 16, 2009 - 10:40 pm: |
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Started riding at about 8 and got my license at 17 (rode to school). In VA at the time, you could get a motorcycle license at 16 with a parent signature. Never went down on the road until I was 42 and hit a deer. Not sure how I went so long on the road without going down since I wasn't always the responsible rider.
I did get a ticket when I was 17 for reckless driving with the help of my motorcycle license. I jumped the median, went up to 60 in a 35 on the back tire as I weaved in and out of cars, without a signal the officer added (heavy motocross background on a XL500 is a bad recipe). Probably wheelied at least 1/4 mile. No talking my way out of that.
Hope you're healing well Jeff. Don't get any ideas from my mistakes. I'm sure you're smarter than I was.
(Message edited by dentguy on January 16, 2009) |
Hooper
| | Posted on Saturday, January 17, 2009 - 12:20 am: |
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Johnnylunchbox, you are so right...
Peart says it so well:
"There are those who think that life has nothing left to chance, take,
A host of holy horrors to direct our aimless dance."
Dr. Greg, you've got an appropriate response for when people ask, "Why would you let your 15-year-old ride a street/sport bike?!" I wouldn't let MY kids do it (I have none, BTW), but I think I trust you to make your own parental decisions based on the skills of your kids' riding abilities.
Why couldn't the same question could be asked of MY parents: "your 36-year-old was skillfully riding a motorcycle and hit a deer. How do you feel about your parenthood?"
We all need to live our lives in the skill level that we're able.
Rock out!
(Message edited by hooper on January 17, 2009) |
Bigdaddy
| | Posted on Saturday, January 17, 2009 - 09:06 am: |
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Heal well in both cases 
I regularly ride with two of my kids and many (read as most) people just can't believe that I'm such a screwed up dad. Both of them have had their ML since their 17th birthday -- the 1st day they were eligible to get it. One of their favorite pastimes is trying to shove me up in the corners and it's fun for me too My daughter's a more properly sized human for riding a motorcycle so she can normally walk away from me and boy wonder, well, that and the R6 v. Uly/Tuber. |
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